ORLANDO, Fla. – A disturbance in the Atlantic developed into Tropical Storm Ernesto on Monday as it moves west toward the Leeward Islands.
The tropical wave was designated Sunday as Potential Tropical Cyclone 5 and was upgraded Monday to a tropical storm.
As of Monday afternoon, Ernesto was 295 miles east-southeast of Antigua, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and moving west-northwest at 28 mph.
Hurricane Hunters were sent Monday afternoon to investigate the system.
A west to west-northwest motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days.
Ernesto is expected to move across portions of the Leeward Islands by Tuesday and near or over the U.S. And British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by Tuesday evening. Ernesto is then forecast to turn northward over the western Atlantic.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Puerto Rico and several other islands. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
Interests elsewhere in the northeastern Caribbean should monitor the progress of Ernesto.
Model guidance has continued to keep this system offshore away from Central Florida and the eastern seaboard. Later this week, it’s possible swells from the system will cause rough surf and high rip current risks for our area beaches.
Hurricane season runs through November.
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